Process for making asphalt



Dec. 4, 1934. MccQNNELL 1,982,920

PROCESS FOR MAKING ASPHALT Filed July 3. 1931 9 7* Z z comaznsez Whbrlbng Atom/13er- I oxmnzma f CHAMBER Ream/=1 All OKOXYGBN 5' HEATER SUPPLY PUMP 1:

OXIDIZING CHAMB ER AIR OI- OXYGEN HEATER $UPPLY.

INVENTOR.

ATI'ORN Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR MAKING ASPHALT Application July 3, 1931, Serial No. 548,601

4 Claims. (01. 198-74) A fundamental difliculty in the manufacture of asphalt has centered about the limitation of oxidizing action. In the customary procedure in which petroleum has been distilled, with removal of progressively heavier cuts down to lubricating fractions, and the bottoms or residuum has then been subjected to the action of air as bubbled through a perforated pipe along the bottom of the still, the amount of exposure and contact action has been so limited as to necessitate very prolonged treatment, two or three days for a batch: and besides the draw-back of such a large time factor there is the further difliculty that such prolonged subjection of hydrocarbons to the high temperatures necessary, effects detrimental decompositions tending to erratic and deficient results. In accordance with thepresent invention, however, it now becomes possible to subject asphalt-forming residuum to a thorough-going oxigo dation treatment with relatively small time requirement, and besides a continuous type procedure, as opposed to batch-wise, is available.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, thesebeing indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic sectional elevation showing apparatus contemplated; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.

A petroleum residuum, as obtained for instance by distilling petroleum and removing the naphtha and progressively heavier cuts on through the inbrication fractions, for example the residuum or bottoms from the distillation of Mid-Continent petroleum as reduced to about 7-8 per cent is, in molten or adequatel fluidified form, projected in ilnely divided spray or atomized condition counter-currently to a suppiyof air. For such one division. ilneLv perforated or porous plates or airatomizer heads may be employed, especially mechanieal atomizer heads in which the subdivision of liquid is cheated by the pressure applied and the emergence through pa s ses affording a fine breaking up of the liquid body with formation of very small droplets or mist particles as projected into the air. In the form of equipment illustrated in Fig. 1, atomizer-spray heads 2, preferabhr of fluid-pressure-whirling yp are arranged at the top of a suitable chamber or tower 3, and

are supplied by pipe 4 from a source of residuum, for instance a pump 5 serving to provide a requisite distribution pressure. At the bottom of the chamber 3 an' air inlet is provided and this may conveniently take the form of a perforated pipe 6 so connected with a blower or'compressor 7, for supply of a body of air in the chamber. At the top an oil-take pipe 8 may lead through a condenser 9 to a receiver 10, and if desired an eduction air pump or blower at the end of the vent pipe 11.

As above indicated, the residuum, for instance as coming from the final distillation zone, through pipe 12, and at a temperature of around 700 F., or lower, to about 400 F., is fed by the pump 5 to the atomizer heads 2, where it is projected in flne- 7o iy divided atomized form, preferably in whirls. against a rising current of air introduced by pipe 6. As the'flnely divided residuum or mist-like particles leave the atomizer heads, they're at once enveloped in an abundance of air, and with v7 the elevated temperatures provided and the exaggerated surface exposure, oxidation proceeds effectively. The product collecting at the bottom of the tower may be drawn of! through the pipe 13 to tanks, shipping drum, or whatever disposal go is desired. In some cases, further treatmentmay be preferred by recycling the material through the pipe 14, the valves 15 and 18 being closed and the valves 17 and 18 being open. The pump 5 then recycles the material until a sample taken 35 oil at the sampling outlet 19, shows the desired specification characteristics. The eii'luent air proceeds through off-take pipe 8 and the condenser 9 to the dischargepipe 11, any condensable substances being collected in the receiver 10. Temperature control may be maintained as desired by the temperature of the incoming residuum and the air. The air may be cooled in some cases as required, or it may be specially, heated, or it may carry the heat acquired in the compressor.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. there is provided in the upper'portion of the tower 3' a finely perforated diaphragm 2'. On account of the diillculty in attaining a desirably flne perforation by direct mechanical punching, it is preferable to provide such perforated .diaphragm in the form of a porous plate or plates making up a header of suillcient extent, and such 05 plates may be of any suitably porous material, as for example aluminum oxide, porcelain or other ceramic material in which pores may be conveniently formed by proportioning the granular raw material from which the plates are initial--' Ly molded. Various degrees of size oi pore openings may be had in materials of this order. De-

sirably, a heating means, as for instance a steam coil 20, is provided adjacent the diaphragm 2', for facilitating melting out 01' residuum which may become solidified or frozen on occasion of temporary shut-downri- Theto'wer otherwise may be equipped with s iced supply lin'e4', with its pump 5 and connection 12' to a source of supply, hy-pass 14'. An air supply, in the form of a pump or blower 7' with discharge 6' in the lower portion of the tower is also provided, and an of!- take or vent pipe 8', which is desired may lead through a condenser 9' to a receiver 10' and ilnal vent 11'. Q

Where it is desired to especially heat theair from the compressor, the heater 21 may be applied to the air pipe prior to its entrance into the tower, the heat being applied by any suitable means, such as a furnace or a flue-gas connection.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in anyof the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed;

ssaoso I thereiore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises atomizing petroleum residuum in whirling, non-stratifying form in ccuntercurrent flow to air.

:2. A process of making oxidized asphalt which. comprises atomizingpetroleinn residuum in whirling, non-stratifying form in counter-current flow to heated air.

3. A process 01' making oxidized asphalt, which comprises circulating petroleum residuum'in linely-divided' form counter-currently to an air stream while continuously varying the pwitions of the points of uninterrupted entry of the finelydivided residuum relative to the air stream and withdrawing the oxidized products.

4. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises circulating petroleum residuum in finely-divlded form counter-currently to a hot air stream while continuously varying the positions of the points of uninterrupted entry of the finelydivided residuum relative to the air stream and withdrawing the oxidized products.

ELLIOTT B. MCCONNELL. 100 

